Brandi is sick. Gordon and I are hovering on the edge of sick. Kid 1 is patient zero who infected all of us. Because Brandi is sick, I decided to look at the emails this week.
I had to reach for a bit of tranquility before responding to the one below, so here is a beautiful lotus for you.
As a fellow writer, I found your profile on amazon and I want to tell you that…
Help me sell my digital book and I will give you 50% share of the revenue. You control the money.
I will send you all the files. You sell it on amazon kindle, or any websites you like on YOUR name, (or my name if you want, but your account ID) then you collect the money and, periodically, you paypal me my 50% share.
You can add the advertisement for my novel at the end of your youtube video file, and/or any other channel as you see fit, and/or make an entire video specifically for my book. Feel free to do anything.
Sound good? If you like the idea but don’t like any specific detail of this offer, let me know and I will modify it.
My name is REDACTED I wrote a book named “TITLE REDACTED” , an English-language comedy erotic fantasy novel. In my opinion. it’s very good and funny book but the competition is really fierce everywhere and I can’t reach any potential customers at all.
Note:
If you like a formal contract, let me know. I can provide it, with My ID card etc.
Only if you want, the name TITLE REDACTED (as well as the cover jpg file) can be changed to your liking, without my permission, for your book entry on the website you are selling it on.
When you try to sell my book on your video, tell the viewers to click on the link on your video that lead to YOUR entry of the book on the website YOU chose to sell it on. DO NOT ask the viewers to search for the word “TITLE REDACTED” on any websites, because that might lead into other entry of the my book (and you will lose your revenue)
For instant chat, you can skype me at my id: REDACTEDWRITING SAMPLE REDACTED. If you are the author reading this, what you wrote is in a screenplay format, not a novel.
No.
Any recommendations you see on this blog are there because we like the work. We will occasionally mention new releases from our friends, and these will be clearly marked so, as in the blog post will have a disclaimer of “The author is our BFF and we are biased.”
We do not use affiliate links when recommending other people’s books and receive no monetary compensation for mentioning other people’s books. Well, Grace Draven took us to dinner, so technically I guess we did receive compensation once.
Look, I get it, it’s hard to break out because there are so many books available now, but this is not the way to go about it. What you are asking us to do would be deeply unethical.
I may need to take Brandi to dinner. Because oy.
Hard pass. https://tenor.com/view/letterkenny-no-gif-13203207
You referenced Letterkenny and that’s what I appreciates about you :D.
Is that what you appreciate about him?
But seriously, what a crappy move.
I think the two of yous have had too much sugar cereal. Honestly, though I do love that show even though I have to watch it second hand. I would almost move to Canada just so I could watch it.
I have to watch it second hand too, I make sure to buy the merchandise to make up somewhat for it! Love my Allegedly T-short. Hope they figger themselves out and broadcast it internationally!
“” #speechless
Enjoy your dinner ????
Good grief! I’m glad you redacted the name, or I would have involuntarily have turned him/her into a frog…not intentionally you understand, but my irritation on your behalf would have got the better of me and it would just have happened…the nerve!
I was thinking cane toad, as the writer is clearly a poisonous invasive species.
Well that would be good, but I am not sure I can rejig the spell…it’s involuntary you understand
I am horrified on your behalf not only as gifted, professional writers, but as a business. Why would anyone think this approach was even remotely okay? As I was reading the email I kept thinking of those scam/fishing emails where the sender is a “long, lost family member from a far off land and if you would just send us your bank information you will be rich. Blah, blah, blah.” It sounds like a cup of your new tea blend might be in order. Good luck and I hope you all feel better soon.
????????????????????????????????
I’m not even a super established author and I’ve gotten an e-mail like this before, insisting I could publish under my name and keep the revenue, just so long as the book got out there. It made me ridiculously uncomfortable becauase that is extremely unethical. I’m glad you made this problem public, and hopefully anyone who had considered doing something similar realizes how inappropriate it is.
Hope you all recover soon. It’s tough when the whole family is ill.
Well wow…someone has some very large (fill in the blank) O_O
On a completely different topic – any idea why comments do not show until I post a comment?
Hope Kid 1 and Brandi feels better soon and you and Gordon avoid the full blown version
Grace is awesome and everyone should read her books.
I love recommendations from authors I love, because I usually love their recs too. (I always know there is a caveat that I may not like the book promoted but usually I do.) I would lose all trust in author recs if this were a thing. So glad you’re highlighting what not to do!
May the gods of disenfectants and health be with you all!
O_O
Uh, get well soon House Andrews!
Wow.
So much seems like it’s meant as a scam.
But if it is real (as in, not a Nigerian prince), still, wow.
I agree… it reads like a scam. I would have replied there’s a Nigerian prince though, who is an author…. what a bizarre genre too. Is that even a thing?? Fantasy comedy erotica…. what?
Anyway, hope IA are able to fight off the sickness and kids get better soon!! Love you guys. I think I’ve read about Artha like 10 times. ????????
It does, doesn’t it? Like “and as soon as you do post this novel under your name, I will sue you for plagiarism!”, cue evil laughter.
Probably not even the point of the writer but just my twisted take on things…
The lotus is beautiful. I’m sorry you are all sick.
I am glad that you refuse to do what this person asked of you, because I enjoy your work so much that I really don’t want to stop reading it. I would have to stop reading it if you started doing what this frustrated person asked of you. I would miss it horribly, but ethics are ethics.
Deep breath. Brandi will return and catch up on the e-mails. Take some time, drink some tea, park a cat in your lap and watch the sunset. Get well soon, and don’t stress over what isn’t yet done.
Ummm… wow. Yeah, not so much… That solicitation was a bit cringe worthy.
You have put honest and kind advice how to publish on your blog multiple times, and I hope that interesting person reads it.
I hope you guys get over the bug soon. I’m just waiting on my kids to bring something home from school. I think I will go ahead and stock up on tissues and cough drops. If I prepare for it, maybe it won’t happen lol
It sounds like a scam. Big red flag for the don’t let anyone google the title.
Just my opinion.
I’m still thankful you suggested the Shinigami Detective.
Me, too!
Me also!
#1! I’ve enjoyed all three of the Shinigami Detective series. Hopefully there will be more. I tried two others from her other series – ok, but not so much.
Three??!?!! *rushes off to to look for the third*
+1 ????
Oh my God.
I imagine a lot of offers are sent to you so taking Brandi to dinner sounds like a good idea.
I hope you all feel better soon!
Get well soon.
And wow that’s just crazy.
I’m so sorry you get queries like this . The lotus is beautiful, thank you. I’m sorry you’re sick. I hope all of you can rest and heal soon. Thank you for all you do – the books AND for sharing your thoughts about so many things/ideas. I love hearing from you and BDHers. Its fun and often funny ????????????. Thank you again.
Jeez, well yeah, OY!! Such deal I have for you!!! sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm.
Oy is right! I cannot believe the ball’s on this person. On the other hand that sounds like a form letter. Can’t get an editor? E-mail random authors who do not write in your genre and hope someone doesn’t mind their reputation being ruined by work they didn’t write. How stupid do they think you are. Sorry it’s like writing a sloppy essay in high school then telling your teacher to give you an A just because. I have had this happen. The essay usually isn’t even on topic. Lol.
Beautiful lotus flower!!
In re: this author – looks like someone forgot to read section 2 under “Contact” from the site menu….or perhaps is related to the “lawyer” who sent a spam to my work fax regarding an inheritance from a “distant relative”…..
Oy, indeed!!
I get a bit frustrated at all the amazon facebook ads of “if you like this author, then you’ll like this author” or this series is a mix of “x series” and “x series” I occasionally go look at the plot and the reviews and it usually looks like it’s a poorly written story with a cliffhanger. I’m very leery about picking out new urban fantasy/paranormal romance. There’s a lot of stuff out there that people like that in truth is little better than poorly written fanfiction. I’d rather get reading recommendations from here!
I would say its because their AI models aren’t mature….however, cynically, the weights are probably skewed more toward revenue rather than how good a match they make. Hence less big name established authors (because their contracts may stipulate a greater portion of the profits to the author themselves) and more lesser known authors
Well that is truly disgusting and stupid. And, by the way, we love whatever referrals you DO make. Lol
Whoa D:
What a case!
Take care of your health, xoxo
Whoa! I had no idea! Maybe you should let Artha handle them. But don’t stop recommending books and authors because I’ve really loved a lot of your recommendations and I would never have found them otherwise.
All hail Artha!
+1
Anyone else think this sounds like that Nigerian Prince scam? When I started reading it, that was the first thing that came to mind. It just sounds like some kind of a scam.
Is this a legitimate thing, trying to get other authors to recommend your books in exchange for money?
I was totally waiting for them to ask Ilona to set up a joint account. You just send me money “periodically”. I also love the part where it is obvious that the title will be sold by several naive authors. LOL
I’m really glad I wasn’t drinking or eating anything when I read this…????
Same same.
I thought of all the horrible stuff that I became aware of due to the #copypastechris plagiarism scandal.
It’s all just made me much more careful about what I buy from Amazon.
It also made me more appreciative of my favourite authors who work so hard and bring us as readers so much joy with their honest hard work. IA are at the top of that list.
Wow! Did you feel the need to clean your computer after that slimy encounter.
I hope everyone starts feeling better soon
8-0
Oh good lord. I do have to say though your book recommendations have me currently buying a whole lot of good books so I really appreciate that you do them.
So even talented and famous writers are spammed. They leave out no-one these days. Hope you all feel better soon!
I would take you guys (all of you, pets included. Well, doggie/kittie bags) out to dinner. And it wouldn’t come close to compensate you for the deep delight/satisfaction/wonder that your stories have brought me.
Fell better and know that we appreciate you.
Is this person insane ????
Wow. In addition to being so desperate it’s ridiculous (and kinda sleazy), it also sounds spammy/scammy and like a pitch from a ghost writing plagiarist. Yuck. So sorry you (& Brandi!) have to deal with such dreck.
Wait, does this actually work for anyone?!? That’s crazy pants.
What the…? Why would anybody even remotely think that it’s a good idea?
Get well soon, all of you.
Wow, that just sounds so much like a scam. I am sorry that House Andrews is sick. I teach at a community college (history) and so many of my students have started passing around all those lovely germs. Fortunately our janitorial staff keeps us supplied with Lysol. And I spray the classroom after everyone has left for the day. I hope everyone feels better soon.
When Rynda kisses Rogan, Nevada feels pity and anger at the same time. It’s the best example I can relate to reading this post.
I’m glad you used this example as a warning. I hope it is enough for other authors to reconsider their choices out there.
I hope you all feel better soon ♡ Best wishes ♡
WOW. I see either someone is giving newbies very bad advice, or the scammers are reaching new lows. This reeks of scam to me, because they want you to publish it under your name/account (WHY??) and just sent them money. Most actual authors, even fresh faced newbies, want people to actually read their book and like it. You know, their book with their name or pen name on it.
I still get the odd solicitation here and there asking me to read/review an author’s book, and do not get me started on the FB messages from authors and PA’s asking me to share their book to my readers. No, just no. Back in the beginning of author career low these three years ago, I fell for this once or twice, in the “sure let’s share each others books” way. But I did not like the feeling it gave me, and now I’m VERY clear to my readers, if I am reccing a book, it’s because I personally read it and loved it and think some of them may really enjoy it. This has led to me having to gently let down a few author acquaintances as I no longer share if I haven’t read, but I think it’s more important for my readers to trust me when I DO rec them something. And I just don’t have time to read everyone’s book. I’m a picky reader. I have a hard time turning off my editing hat, and when I read, I want to be sucked into escapism like everyone else. So, I only read books if the premise sounds interesting and the writing sample grabs me.
Whoever is advising people to cold-email or cold-message authors for “promo” needs to stop. And this email is a solid NO from here to eternity.
Ugh, typing “back in the beginning of my author career, lo these three years ago”. that’s what that sentence should be.
Please, please, please keep mentioning books you like. Even if they are your friends. I have added 2 amazing authors over the past year thanks to you. And I can’t be happier and little more broke. Thank you
+1 I think I’ve tried every book they’ve recced and continued reading the author. I’m still super sad there have been no new books in the Diane Fallon mystery series in years.
Love the Lotus. Take Brandi out for dinner. Someplace nice , and relax. Bring something home for Gordon.
I have have been getting more and more scams. It’s awful. But what is being suggested is unethical and creepy.
I love your recommendations for books, movies , plants and especially pet photos.
I especially loved how Jeaniene reached out and you helped her get her girl doggy a new home.????????
So breathe. Try new tea. Snuggle with a cat. Get a new mug. I like big mugs that I can wrap my hand around. And if it falls ,it may not break. Check on what trouble Artha is up to.
I am re-reading the edge series. But.
I miss KATE and Andrea, and Christopher and Julie and Curran’s growls.
And Roman, Luther and Doolittle.
But I have been enjoying Nevada and Cornelius and Mathilda and Catalina , Arabella,Shadow and Linus.
Then we have Penelope , and a possibility of a new romance. Holding my breath.
Thank you for your positive thoughts and sense of humor.
“Any recommendations you see on this blog are there because we like the work. ”
I, for one, appreciate that very much. Book ads are everywhere. I prefer recommendations for books that were actually read and liked.
Phishing emails get scarily specific (target attacks according to the IT training I just completed). I get so many spam messages in my work account it’s not even funny. The ones I truly enjoy are the wonderful offers for me to PAY to write a chapter in a textbook. Yeah…not how that works. I’ll admit we have to pay color or page charges for most high profile journals, but they also don’t solicit us.
The grad student I use as my dog-sitter showed me a phishing email specific to her dog sitting gigs. It was hilarious. Do scammers really get enough out of the amount of time they put into these things?
Sadly, yes, scammers do get enough out of these scams to make them worthwhile, it’s so cheap to send out these emails to millions of people so they don’t need more than tiny percentage of people to fall for them.
Good luck fending off the bug. There’s just no good time to get ill.
I’m saddened that you were forced to deal with this unpleasant proposal. It’s depressing that the individual who contacted you felt a) this was an okay idea to propose and b) that you were authors that might be receptive to it. It wouldn’t surprise me if this individual was just “cold calling” random successful authors to see if anyone would bite.
Whoa. I’m shaking my head over that. Biased recommendations are fine. Outright spamming or whatever that is, is not fine.
Hope everyone feels better. Stay hydrated and get as much rest as possible. 🙂
Wow. I got nuthin’.
The lotus is lovely. Maybe wait for dinner until you all feel better. You can always do carryout in the meantime.
The wannabe author sounds a little like a Nigerian Prince. Or at least a Prime Minister. Bank President at the very least.
That’s just weird beyond belief. Why would anyone want to see their own work published under another author’s name? Scam time. So sorry you have to put up with this dreck.
Hope House Andrews gets better soon! Best wishes headed your way.
Ah, the joys of being a published author. Having to put up with kaka-poo-poo like this. I don’t understand the way a person’s brain works, that would even think of contacting you about this subject, in this way. I can’t help wondering if it isn’t some sort of scam.
I hope everyone in your family gets well and feels much better very soon.
????
It sounds like a scan. I don’t know how, but the language is very similar to a scam I got recently about promoting someone’s product on some web pages I manage.
Not a book and the web pages are in no way related to the product… I mostly rolled my eyes and reported it to the email vendor (yahoo).
Yes, they would probably want your banking information at some point to facilitate payment. If it is not a scam still takes a lot of gumption to assume their writing is good enough to be labeled as Ilona Andrews – odds are better to win the powerball lottery.
Hope everyone at House Andrews feels better soon.
+1
So, all I have to do to make money writing is to find a great and successful author(s) which probably means that they are smart BUT idiotic enough to cash out their reputation for a sketchy non-business proposal? Eeeek!
I hope that everyone gets healthy soon because it’s hockey season!
Wowza
Hmm – always a bad idea to get involved in stuff like this. YOU take responsibility for the money. YOU pay me. YOU take the risk. And odds are, down the road there’s a lawsuit saying YOU didn’t abide by the contract, YOU didn’t pay them their just dues, YOU stole their content. I wouldn’t touch this with a 10 foot pole.
+1
Yup. I was reading about various publishing scams and one involves claiming an author stole your rights or trying to steal the rights of the author…. this smacks of that…. ugh.
+1
Hope you feel better!
What the BDH said! Aka wooooowwwwww, that’sa lotta chutzpah, there….????
Thank you Brandie, for defending House Andrew’s from that sorta BS!!!!!
well, thats super rude. and entirely stupid. Not only is that unethical, but it is also likely to blowback on you. I am sorry but either that person thinks they are far smarter than their competition or they think you are stupid, or both.
that sucks that you have to deal with that.
Here’s hoping everyone feels better soon. It a real pain when nobody feels well enough to take care of the little stuff that helps things run smoothly.
The lotus is lovely. Thank you.
And lastly – the dingbat sounds really fake and creepy. Perhaps some of the disinfectant can be used on him / her / them. I’m not sure what the catch is or where it’s hiding, but I am sure there is a catch somewhere.
Be careful, please.
I use to talk to my art teacher about how long it took to become an expert in her field…water colour……10,000 hrs was suggested. (she would spend hrs perfecting her clouds)
How many hours do you think the two of you have put into your trade to reach the New York list?
I’m wondering how many computer viruses the unknown pseudoauthor was trying to transmit.
Oh, WOW. This is so weird, it made my brain itchy. I agree with many of the other commenters; the verbiage used gives the whole message a “Nigerian prince” vibe. Also, I can understand the desperation a new author can feel when trying to get their first work published, but- really? If you’re trying this hard, and still no one wants your work, you might want to re-check the value of said work. This is the craziest, most unethical scheme I’ve seen in quite a while. Just WOW.
[Put’s head in hands and shakes it].
Don’t you wish for simpler more innocent times when all you had to put up with was some Nigerian [prince, government official, deposed ruler, etc] trying to get his money out of the country. All he needs is your bank account details …
And of course I hope Brandi and the family swiftly get over whatever nasty has inflicted itself on you.
I used to collect Nigerian scams. They came in on the fax machine at work and I had a whole folder full of them. I hadn’t seen one in ages, but then got one through my work email the other day. A soldier deployed in Afghanistan wanted me to help him repatriate $7million. Yeah, right. This sounds right up that same alley.
I’m just getting over a sinus infection, so I feel for all of you. Lots of love and liquids and maybe antibiotics.
Wow… that’s just… wow… there was so much wrong with that… I can’t even begin to… just wow…
Wishing House Andrews plus Brandi, a swift recovery.
That email is all kinds of ‘Ew’ , a bit of creepy mixed with dose of ‘the utter nerve’.
OMG! The nerve!!! My BFF’s daughter wrote a book on her struggles with drug addiction and her recovery. She self published it on Kindle and it’s sold well. Why bother you guys with this? Does he want to “suck off your success?” I’m appalled!!!
It’s got nothing to do with books – he’s not a writer and there is no book.
“DO NOT ask the viewers to search for the word ‘TITLE REDACTED'”
It’s a scam pure and simple.
I will give him some points for originality though – this is the first scam I’ve come across targeting authors specifically.
Claire above has the right of it.
You do realize they took out the “author’s” name and book title so they weren’t doing what was asked in any way. If they left that in, that would be a type of promotion.
I know that it was Ilona who redacted the title – the point I was making is he was asking specifically that people didn’t search for whatever the title was. And his capitalization of “DO NOT”.
Yep. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Some more nope inserted here.
Please insert the nopetopus here. Noping right out of nope town.
The nope rope says nope.
Danger noodle says skeedoodle. (What? I’m tired because for some reason I was unable to sleep well last night…)
I’m just going to go back to staring at the pretty lotus, for it is pretty, it is calming, and I just waved my sanity goodbye.
P.S.: Yes to everything you said. Plus a few extra for good measure.
I hope everyone feels better soon.
Sounds like spam. I’ve received emails with similar wording to promote my listings or help sell my product. (eBay,Amazon,etc). Oh, you’ll help me sell that $1 book? Let me click on the embedded link in your email ID10T.
Take Brandi to dinner! Take Brandi to dinner!
Possibly at a restaurant painted with lotus blossoms.
For your amusement:
There’s people who make a hobby of taking down these kind of scammers – Scambaiters.
They pretend to be sucked in by the scam and make the scammer waste time, money and resources as they chase what they think is a sucker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scam_baiting
Awesome! Real superheroes fighting real crime. Love it!
I agree with the others that I wouldn’t touch this with a ten-foot pole, because of the reasons I +1’d above, but what’s unethical about it? People get paid endorsements all the time. Wouldn’t this be the equivalent of Nike paying Mia Hamm to endorse their shoes?
Not the same at all. For your analogy, Nike doesn’t have Mia Hamm claiming to have made the shoes. This person wants House Andrews to put their name AS AUTHOR. Just….no.
I guess I didn’t understand that. That… doesn’t even make SENSE, though. Not if they’re trying to break into readership.
Scam!!
1. Thank you for the pretty lotus. I needed that today, for way too many reasons. (Then, after reading post, I stared it again…)
2. Thanks be to Brandi for having to deal with this. Sorry you had to even know it exists. Just “NOPE. Nope. Nope.” Delete.
3. Hope you are all feeling better very, very soon. The gunk going around right now is all up and down the 1-35 corridor. Some school districts took a 1/2 day off and “de bugged” the school, it’s so bad right now.
4. (Staring at lotus some more). Yep. Lowers the blood pressure. Now searching similar photos to change desktop background…
Beautifulllllll lotus, thank you … And total scam. Besides anyone who follows the Andrew s family blog KNOWs you all would never in a million years do this.
I hope everyone recovers from the virus quickly.
Sorry, to hear that you are all feeling unwell. Hope it passes quickly.
On a completely related-unrelated note. Just finished a book that you might like (it is a free fanfiction).
“Petunia married a biochemist, and Harry grew up reading science and science fiction. Then came the Hogwarts letter, and a world of intriguing new possibilities to exploit. And new friends, like Hermione Granger, and Professor McGonagall, and Professor Quirrel…”
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
https://leanpub.com/hpmor
Wow. That’s pretty ballsy. I agree with others, though, that it’s probably the lead-in to a scam. ????
Def a scam, no way is that legit. Either looking for you to download their viruses or they’re phishing. If you opened any attachments run some virus scans on your machines to be safe. Best not to reply to this kind of thing or you’ll get a lot more of it in the future.
To quote one of your books: “I can’t even.”
Hope you all feel better soon!
Lotus is beautiful, scammers are awful, good assistants are worth their weight in gold, and may everyone feel good very soon.
So succinct!
“I wrote this… in my opinion it is good…” Of course ! If I ever wrote a book I hope it would also be good in (at least in) my opinion ????
It souns quite like a joke.
I agree it’s probably a scam. If it’s not, this is a more extreme version of the lazy student who contacts an author to get the author to write the student’s assigned book report. Yuck. Try to ignore this sort of dreck.
I love what House Andrews writes so much that
(1) I can’t decide which series I like best, and
(2) I’m breaking my habit of silent browsing to post this.
Oooo yeah! Scam city. Part of the price of success. Sorry. Push it out of your brain. Shoo. Shoo. However, the lotus is still a lovely thing. Well worth appreciating quietly. Breath deep, relax, take meds if you have them, and try to sleep through being sick. Soft pillows, quiet room. Ahhmm. Nice bed, cool sheets.
Feel better you all. Thanks for the flower. Oh, and by the way, I have this land….
Ooooh, is it a Kansas sea side property? I’ve always wanted one of those XD
Me too
Extra-aggravating when on the edge of being sick and surrounded by sick people too! I recommend take-out with Brandi in comfy pants. Not just Brandi in the comfy pants, both of you. In different pairs of pants…did I mention I’m sick too? I hope all of you feel better soon!
Thank you for your honest recommendations!! I love Grace Draven’s and Jesse Mihalik’s work – and I started both because of you! Thanks for your integrity.
Gack. Take Brandi to dinner… maybe share some wine or other drink of your choice to dim the memory…..
I also may have a bridge to sell you. ????????
disinfect kid 1 before letting them in the house sounds like is needed. ::laughs:: I though they were over the germ stage. Just kidding. my best friend’s mom taught 1st grade and we always told her she had to disinfect before she came home so she didn’t bring the germs the little kids carried in with her. My friend has a bad immune system so hey everything will get her. All kidding aside.
I hope everyone gets well soon. If I remember correctly if you like lavender burning lavender will help kill germs in the air to help keep a repeat. As always enjoy everything you write even your blogs
Scam? Desperation? I don’t know but good luck to ‘Redacted’ anyway. That took some serious balls, and some seriously flexible morals. Hope you guys dodge the bullet and hope everyone already sick feels better soon.
OK the following may not be appreciated so I’ll apologize in advance. Sorry.
I’ve noticed you mentioning the fam (animals and humans) getting sick a lot lately. I’m not sure if I’m misremembering, but I don’t recall you guys having so many health issues back at your previous home. Disregard this as crazy talk if it offends or annoys, but your new home (gorgeous house that it is) might have bad fengshui. If you believe the woowoo stuff, and I do because I’m crazy superstitious regardless which culture it’s from, you can Google ways to counteract it. Something simple, like placing a piece of furniture a certain way or hanging a bagua mirror on the outside of your front door can change or deflect negative energy. I don’t recommend doing the bagua trick if you have someone living across from you. My mom was having horrid luck a few years ago and her maid discovered that their neighbor’s mother in law across had installed a small bagua mirror on their front door– sending all their bad luck to my mom. Things got really nasty for awhile after that. In the end, mom put up an even bigger mirror and the actual neighbors (not the mil) apologized and took theirs down. I doubt many in Texas would know wtf a bagua is, but it isn’t very neighborly ????????♀️
It’s not fengshu. It’s a virus that is spreading through I-35 corridor. Kid 1’s friend in College Station is down with the same symptoms and she is quite a bit away. But thank you anyway.
Glad you declined – the whole thing just struck me as weird.
O_O
Get well soon
So sorry, House Andrews is feeling poorly again. When Brandi, and you feel better, certainly a nice dinner out is in order.
In the meantime, I would suggest a nice warming Tulsi Ginger Chai, or other tea of your choice to start testing your 500+ tea recommendations.
Be well. Ignore scammers. Don’t cry in the weeds. Much positivity and healing to you.
1) Sympathy for all in House Andrews who are feeling lousy 🙁
2) The lotus flower is lovely 🙂
3) Definitely a scammer, and a few others nailed it – that is pretty ballsy behaviour, trying to pull that dreck on NYT best selling author.
4) The “Landscapes” theme for the desktop backgrounds in Windows 7 has some very lovely, calming photos ranging from gorgeous canyon shots to French lavender fields to waterfalls. It’s likely Windows 10 has something similar. Best of all, it’s free!
Strangely enough, though, there’s a meme I came across on Facebook that I found gives me a sense of peaceful enjoyment whenever I see it. It’s titled, “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall”, and has 4 frames with Humpty Dumpty in charming autumn scenes. It was created by Rachel Greenberg, who never expected it to go so viral. Here’s a link to a site where anyone can see it and read the story behind it: https://worldwideinterweb.com/this-humpty-dumpty-fall-meme-is-the-most-wholesome-thing-youll-see-all-week/
Best wishes and good health to all.
I hope you and your family get better soon.
Love that lotus photo. It is incandescent!
As for the email, it might be a scam but even if it isn’t I can see how some people might think it’s alright to do such a thing. Just consider how the word ‘hustle’ has been mainstreamed from ‘shake/toss’ to ‘illicit/fraud’ to ‘ambitious, fire in the belly forward-momentum’.
I think ethico-compromised should become a recognised condition/disease like pyromania.
By the way, I love the recommendations that you give. Because I trust your taste, I will often give your recommendations a try. They might pull me outside of my comfort zone or they might be something I haven’t heard of before and I like that. So, please keep on keeping on. There have been a lot of hits and some misses but that’s less of a risk than I take when I go to a bookstore and go “let’s pick out something from someone I’ve never heard of”. So, thanks! Please keep providing recommendations!
“… and I want to be a Paperback Writer ….”
You guys get all the fun emails 🙂 All I get are Chinese sellers wanting me to write reviews for a “reduced price” of their products (which is the price they wanted all along)
I’m sorry the e-mail was disturbing ,,, but it read like something in, “The Onion.”
I feel like I should apologize,,, because I smiled all the way through it.
As Catalina would say — I can’t even.
Wow. Squared. OTOH, take care and get well.
On a positive note, last month you blogged about two series that you liked – Chronicles of the Warlands by Elizabeth Vaughan and Broken Lands by T.A. White. I enjoyed them very much and I’m so happy that you recommended them!
Oh yeah, totally a scam. Notice that they said not to search for the title of the book at the end of the pitch? Its probably because they stole somebody else’s book. If there even is a book at all.
Wow. Some people.
Sending House Andrews Healing Reiki Energies
Everyone will be well!!!
Hahaha! “Well, Grace Draven took us to dinner, so technically I guess we did receive compensation once.”
I do appreciate your integrity, and I love reading your book recommendations! They’ve helped me discover some wonderful new authors (including Grace Draven) and some that fit in the “your mileage may vary” category, but I never have to doubt the sincerity of your recommendation. <3
+1
Hahahahahahahahaha!
Hope everyone gets better soon!
Always amazing the lengths people will go.
I thought this was one of those emails that says you inherited lots of money but please give us your credit card and personal information so we can mail it to you type of things.
Best of luck to the budding author. Very creative. ???? Yes take Brandi to dinner. She reads every email? Brave woman!????
So would you say this is an average day? Yep, nutters and more nutters. – Gavin Troy.
Oh my! People!! Don’t even know what they think and don’t care.
Rest, relax, knit…be well really soon.
Sending happy thoughts, good wishes and healing prayers to all. Get better and yes definitely take Brandi out to dinner(more than once!).
That email was someone whose first language is not English. I agree with the person who said it sounds like those crazy emails about someone wants to give you 1.5 million dollars! Your answer was so nice! If you get lots of these, poor Brandi must go nuts reading and answering emails. I probably wouldn’t answer ones like that. Those are the ones in my spam folder!
Did they also claim to be working for the IRS? What a joke. Hope you all feel better soon!
Wow! That is some crazypants thinking right there. I love that you are obviously being kind to this person.
I hope you all recover soon. Wishing health for House Andrews!
Why would you want someone to take credit for a piece of work you’ve poured your time and a piece of yourself into?
All writers should let their own light shine.
Hope your family gets better soon. “And for five easy payments of $1 million each I can connect you with a Nigerian General who may or may not have money to invest.” That is about the level this is at. The big thing on youtube is passive income which you generate by posting videos recommending products you use. You also are supposed to branch out by finding other products and companies you can recommend and have the people that own said products and companies pay them. Sadly like pyramid schemes only a few people who do this make real money. I say join the circus and become a lion tamer. its safer. 🙂
Good one!
Yes, but you footed the bill for me and Mr. Draven the next time, and we’ve been swapping ever since. So I’d call that even-steven. ;-D
I hope you are well enough to fly to London. Looking forward to meeting you!
I think that they had to CANCEL that visit Elizabeth.
Wow. I just can’t even. I mean that’s hella creative/conniving and sadly I’m sure someone somewhere does that but geez. Thank you for not being those kind of people.
I’m sorry y’all are dealing w the sick. We all have the allergies from hell and I’m tap dancing on the edge of sick so I feel you.
WOW! Does this happen often?
Oy is right! *air hugs*
Wow! That was so tacky that the tacky meter broke.
O_O Well…that’s…bold… Wowzers….
OMG, honey, my heart so goes out to you! It’s enough to be verging-on-sick, and have people around you be sick, and then to have to deal with this!
As my boss would say, “The high price of success.”
Please take extra-good care of yourself (yourselves).
Xoxo to all – A.
That bizarre message made me think of so much now going on online. I have just discovered that a favorite website was now newly advertising for “Question Creating Jobs” and artificially seek answers from others and get paid. However those who carefully answered questions with care and thought and had many thousands of upvotes, the meat of the whole site, were ignored. I am constantly amazed at the chutzpah and desperate greed that travels through the net.
However, I do have some rocks from my garden for sale…. free shipping on purchases $50 or more….???? (monograms extra)
Oh dear. Nice lotus flower. Suddenly very glad I don’t have your job. 🙂
I’ve sen you mention Grace Draven a few times in the blog but i’ve never read antthing from her…. what would you recommend?.
Thanks!